Madagascar has placed its capital Antananarivo under a fresh lockdown following a new surge in coronavirus infections, two months after the restrictions were eased, the presidency announced Sunday. "The Analamanga region (under which the capital is situated) is returning to full lockdown," the presidency said in a statement. No traffic will be allowed in or [...]
Faced with dwindling economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more women in Seychelles are being encouraged to try a new business venture thanks to specially allocated funding through the Seychelles Women’s Trust Fund. “Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on people’s lives, especially at the economic level, the trust has modified the focus [...]
India announced Monday that it has nearly 700,000 coronavirus cases, taking it past Russia to become the third-hardest-hit nation in the global pandemic. The health ministry said 697,358 cases had now been recorded, a rise of 24,000 in 24 hours, while Russia has just over 681,000. The United States and Brazil have the highest numbers [...]
A surge in coronavirus cases sapped the fun out of July 4 celebrations in the United States as the pandemic also accelerated through neighboring Mexico, the rest of Latin America and South Africa.Even Europe, which has largely been celebrating reopening, saw some setbacks, with authorities placing 200,000 people back under lockdown in Spain after a [...]
Reggae lovers in Seychelles' La Digue island will soon be able to enjoy food, music and a drink at the country's first reggae bar. Owned by couple Ethel and Lenny Durup, La Digue Reggae Bar is built with an open view using natural materials, painted in the iconic reggae colours red, gold and green. "La [...]
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Friday that the killing of a popular singer, and subsequent violence that has left nearly 100 dead this week, represented "coordinated attempts" to destabilise the country. Speaking during a meeting with high-ranking officials, Abiy did not identify who he blamed for the unrest, though he vowed to hold to [...]
The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change in Seychelles has expressed concerns over the rising population of feral pigeons and recent sightings of the Indian House Crow, which is considered a threat to the local biodiversity and needs to be eliminated. A conservation officer from the biodiversity conservation section of the ministry told the [...]
As mainland France heaves a sigh of relief after seemingly seeing off the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, its South American territory of Guiana is bracing for a fast-worsening onslaught. The sparsely-populated French territory, officially one of France's 101 administrative departments, is only now seeing its caseload accelerate as the virus expands its foothold in [...]
Residents in Seychelles have mixed views on the recent rollout of a new next-generation 5G network. Cable and Wireless Seychelles launched its 5G network last week at the Eden Bleu hotel in partnership with Huawei, a Chinese multinational telecommunications company. The company's chief executive, Charles Hammond, said, "In spite of all the rumours of health [...]
The World Bank has approved a $15 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to support Seychelles' response to the economic and social fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The World Bank said this week that the loan will help enhance the country's response mechanisms in health, social protection and the private sector, [...]
